Game apparatus



Sep@ 2,1947. Ta M. Ems; m

GAME APPARATUS Filed MELIOh 20, 1945 5 Sheets-#Sheet 1 Sept- 2, 1947- T, M. BAaNs, JR '2,426,915

GAME APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 SQP@ 2, 1947 T. M. BAINS, JR A z GAME APPARATUS AFiled March 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SepQZ, i947. y T.M.BANs,JR 2,426,915

GAME APPARAUS Filed March 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 2, 1947. T. M. BAINS, JR

GAME APPARATUS VFiled March 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'nf eI Patented Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Thomas M. Bains, Jr., San Francisco, Calif.

ApplcationMarch 20, 1945, Serial No. 583,710

`6 Claims. 1

My invention relates Yto `game apparatus.

An important object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus lwhich may be operated with diierent degrees of success depending upon the skill of the player.

A further object of the invention is to lprovide a gaine apparatus having a variable speed ball, which renders the game interesting and attractive to play.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus wherein the speed of a rolling ball is varied by the grade, gauge or parallel or nonparallel relation of the rail track rails, as well as the coefcient friction between the ball and the track surface.

A further-object of the invention is to provide simple and cheap adjustable means for supporting the track rails at the desired grade or inclination.

A further` object ofthe invention is to provide means to catch `the `ball after it has traveled through one of the track units, and -feed the same to any selected track unit.

Other objects and-.advantages of the invention `will lbe apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings `forming apart of this application and -in which like numerals are employedvto designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken online I-I of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical enlarged longitudinal section through the ball holding receptacle and associated elements,

Figure 4 is a plan'view of the ball holding receptacle and associated elements,

Figure 5 is a perspective -view of the ball holding receptacle and the ball transfer receptacle,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one end of the casing,

Figure 7 is a perspective View ofl one track unit,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2',

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation .of the illustration is shown a Vpreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I designates a casing, having a top rI..I,fpreferably formed of transparent material. The tophas a forward end I2 and a roundedcorner I3, Yas shown. The end I2 has .a Acentral vertical `slot 'I 4, leading at its lower `end into a horizontalslot I5, having short vertical slots I6 Aarranged lbeneath the .same and in Acommunication therewith. The .vertical slots L6 correspond in number and arrangement .to the track units to Ybe described. At its Vupper end, the vertical slot I4 leads into an upper horizontal transverse slot I'I, leading into elongated inclined or longitudinal .slots I8, `corresponding .in number and .arrangement to .the vertical slots .I 6.

The numeral I9 designates a'transfer or feed receptacle, vhaving an incline .front face or end '20. A shank 2| is rigidly secured to the rear-end of the receptacle I9. This shank .is square in cross section and will slide in the slots Vbut will not turn therein. The shank .2| has la collar 22 rigidly secured thereto and vvis provided Awith a handle 23, as shown.

Arranged .within the casing I0 and extending longitudinally `thereof .are .a plurality of track unitsv 24. Since I have shown-six notches-.or slots I6 there -will be Vsix track units. These track units are arranged in vertical planesand-extend .longitudinally withinthe casing IU. Each Ytrack unit .comprises superposed tracks :which `are inclined. The u-ppermost .track comprises 4rails `25, which Vare lspaced and inclined downwardly -in a rearward direction. These .rails also diverge rearwardly. The `forward-ends of the rails 25 are held wit-hin openings 2S formed withinl a spreader-plate 21. The rear ends of the vrails 25 are held within openings 28 formed Tin a spreader-plate .29. VThe next pair of :lower Arails 3|).have'their ends held within openings 3| ofgthe spreader-plate 29 and the rails 30 are inclined downwardly in a'forward direction Aanddiverged forwardly :and have their ends heldwithinopenings 32 off-aspreadfplate. 4The next-lower pair of rails l-34 `are/inclined downwardly -in a rearward v.direction and have their forwardfends held within openings 35 vof the-spreader-,plate .33 Yand their urear ends held within openings :36 of a `spreader-plate 31. lThe next lower pair -Vof rails 38 are inclined downwardly `in j-a `forward direction and diverged Vforwardly and `their ,forward ends are held -within `openings 39 ina spreader- -plate 4 0, while their .rear endsare held "within openings -4I in the spreader-plate 3l. The spreader-plates in eachuverticalgroup havepairs of openings jli-2,for receiving flexible elements `or -cords 43. This 'permits-.reach spreadereplate-to be conveniently vertically adjusted upon the cords to vary the inclination of the pairs of rails. The spreader-plate will be held in the adjusted position by frictional engagement with the cords. The rear cords 43 are suitably anchored at their upper and lower ends within the casing I0, while the rails 25 and 38 rest upon horizontal rods 42', and the ends of the forward cords 43 have knots 43'. Any suitable means may be employed to hold the pairs of tracks in place.

Arranged at the forward discharge end of each lower-most pair of rails 38 is a stationary holding receptacle 44, having an inclined rear wall urged upwardly by a spring 48. The bottom`49 of the receptacle 44 is inclined, as shown. The slide 41 is moved downwardly by an extension or lift 50, formed upon the inclined Vside 20 of the receptacle I 9.

Circuit closing means isvarranged within the receptacle 44, including a stationary contact I and a movable contact 52 which is biased open. These contacts are insulated from each other and are connected with wires 53 and 54. The wire 53 has a light bulb 55 connected therein and a source of current 56 is connected in the wires 53 and 54, as shown.

Extending across then casing lll near its forward end and beneath the pair of rails 25 is a rock shaft 51,V varying upstanding fingers 58, projecting between and above the rails 25 in the several pairs. The rock shaft 51 is turned in one direction by a spring 59, and is turned in the opposite direction by a crank 6U arranged exteriorly ofthe casing.V

Adapted to travel upon the tracks in each set isa ball 6|. The diameter of the ball is such that whenY it approaches or reaches the spreadl end of the rails, it will drop through the space between these rails and be caught upon the adjacent ends of the rails next beneath the same. The ball will travel a short distance up such next rails, due to inertia and will then reverse itself and run down the rails to drop through the lower spread end of the same.

The ball 6I is hollow and is preferably thin and light and may be formed in hemispheres 62, the meeting edges of which overlap and are secured together, forming a slight annular rib 63, arranged upon its inner surface. I have found that the conventional ping pong bah may be used for this purpose. Arranged within the hollow ball 6| is a spherical weight 64, such as a lead buckshot. The weight 64 is, of course, free to roll in any direction within the hollow ball 6I.

The operation of the game apparatus is as follows:

If there are six track units there Vwould be six balls BI. L.In the beginning, al1 balls would be within the stationary holdingv receptacles 44. The player now grasps the handle 23 and shifts the shank 2| in the slot I5 until the shank is over the selected depending slot I6, depending upon the selected track unit. The handle v23 is now depressed and the lip 50 'of the transfer receptacle I9V depresses the slide 41 while the receptacle I9 is being lowered. The ballfBI V`rolls from the receptacle 44 into the receptacle I9. The slides of the other receptacles are in no way actuatedand only the selected ball can be caught in the receptacle I9, which isV shiftablefruse With all of the receptacles 44. The handle 23 vis now raised so that the shank 2| passes into the" horizontal slot I5 and is moved therein to enter the vertical slot I4 and is then moved into the horizontal transverse slot |1. The shank 2| is shifted in the slot I1 to bring it adjacent to the selected slot I8. Any slot I8 may be selected to receive the shank 2|. When the shank 2| enters the longitudinal slot |8, the transfer receptacle I 9 is tilted to a vertical position and the ball 5| will roll down the inclined end 2|] andv be discharged upon the take-up end of the rails 25 of the selected track unit. The ball rolls down these rails by gravity and passes between the lower spread ends of the same and falls upon the next lower rails 30. Due to inertia, the ball will roll up the rails 30 for a short distance and will then reverse its direction of travel and roll down the rails 30 by gravity. In a corresponding manner the ball passes from the discharge end of each pair of rails to the take-up end of the next lower pair of rails and after passing thru the entire track unit, is discharged into the receptacle 44.`

When rolling down the pair of track rails, the ball is, of course, turning upon Vits axis in a plane of rotation. The interior rib 63 may be arranged in a plane at a right angle to this rplane of rotation, or in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation, or in planes at varying angles between these two extreme positions. When the internal rib 63 is in a plane at a right angle to the plane of rotation Vof the ball 5| it will o ier the maximum interference with the free rotation of the weight or ball `64. This ball is heavier than the hollow ball 6| and causes the bal1 6| toY rotate in a jumpy or irregular manner. The disturbance is at the maximum when the weight-64 is rolling over they internal rib 63. When the hollow ball 5| has its internal rib `63 in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation of the ball BI, the action of the weight 64 is reduced to the minimum. VIt is thus seen that the weight will control to a considerable extent the action and speed of rotation of the ball 6I, and the action of the weight is in turn adjustedor regulated by the position that the internal rib 63 has with respect to theplane of rotation of the ball 5|. VWhen theball 6| is introducedinto the transfer receptacle vI9 and fed by this receptacle to the upper vend of the selected track unit, the relative position of the internal rib 63 is entirely a matter of chance. -Hence the speed of rotation and the manner of rotation of the ball when used Vwith the receptacle I9 introduces an element `of chance into Ythe playing of the game apparatus.

The lingers 58serve to hold all of the balls 46| in the starting position when fed to the intake end of the track units,rand`a1l balls are Yreleased at the same time by swinging the crank 6|)V downwardly, which retracts the Vlingers 58. The several balls thus run down the track units, and as these balls roll irregularly, Atheir travel is interesting and exciting, and may depend wholly upon chance, or the skill of the players in arranging the 'balls upon the tracks. Further, th speed of the'balls may be controlled by adjusting the grade of the tracks. Y I also contemplate using the track units Without enclosing them in the casing I0, or otherwise providing laccess to the upper take-up'ends of the track units. This will enable the 'player to hold the ball in his hand and adjust the internal rib `|53A with respect to the plane of rotation of the ball as applied to the track'- 'By this means upon the skin of the player." Further, when access can be readily had to the track units, the player can vary the grade or inclination of the rails, by vertically adjusting or sliding the spreader-plates upon the cords 43. The openings in the spreader-plates may be varied for changing the divergence of the rails.

In Figures 11 and 12, I have shown a modied form of ball for use with the track unit 24. This ball includes an outer hollow ball 65, which is thin and light. The numeral 66 designates a housing, which is flat, circular, and extends diametrically of the ball 65. This housing has a spiral passage 61 extending from the center 68 and terminating at the periphery or circumference of the ball. The spiral passage 6l holds a traveling weight 69, which is preferably mercury, altho a solid ball could be used. When the ball 65 rotates clockwise, the mercury 69 travels toward the outer end of the passage 6l, thus increasing the eccentric load of the ball. This will cause the ball to rotate in an irregular manner. When the mercury reaches the outer end of the passage El it will move back and forth for a limited extent, during the clockwise rotation of the ball, thus further rendering such rotation irregular. When the ball rotates counter-clockwise, the mercury travels to the inner end of the passage `b'l and the mercury is then concentric with the ball and the load is concentric. The ball will then rotate in a regular manner. The mercury will travel in the passage 61 with the maximum freedom when the passage 61 is in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation of the ball 65, and when the passage 6l is in a plane at a right angle to the plane of rou tation of the ball, the mercury will have only a limited movement. The ball 65 may be used with the receptacle I9 and will then introduce a chance element into the playing of the game apparatus, or this ball may be used with the accessible track unit and then the player may manipulate the ball when applying the same to the track, regulating the plane of the spiral passage 61 with respect to the plane of rotation of the ball.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be f taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In game apparatus, a casing having al cover and end, the end having a lower horizontal slot and a plurality of depending vertical slots, the end having a vertical slot leading into the horizontal slot, the casing being provided near the cover and the end with a horizontal slot leading into the Vertical slot andthe casing also having a plurality of longitudinal slots leading into the second named horizontal slot, ball receiving track units arranged within the casing and corresponding in number and arrangement to the longitudinal slots, a holding receptacle at the discharge end of each track unit, a slide for each holding receptacle, a transfer receptacle having a, part to engage and depress the slide, and a handle secured to the transfer receptacle and having a shank to slide within the slots.

2. In game apparatus, a track unit comprising supporting flexible elements, spreader-plates hav.. ing apertures to receive the flexible elements and vertically adjustable thereon, said spreader plates having openings, and pairs of superposed inclined rails having their ends held within the openings of the spreader plates and adapted to receive a ball or the like thereon.

3. In game apparatus, a plurality of horizontally spaced track units arranged within the casing, each track unit having discharge and intake ends, a casing receiving the track units and having a continuous guide means leading to the discharge ends of the horizontally spaced track units and to the intake ends of the horizontally spaced track units, a transfer receptacle arranged within the casing, and a handle secured to the receptacle to shift it and operating within th'e guide means and extending to the exterior of the casing.

4. In game apparatus, a plurality of horizontally spaced track units arranged within the casing, each track unit having an upper intake end and a lower discharge end, a casing receiving the horizontally spaced track units, said casing having slot means including a part arranged near the upper intake ends of the track units and a part arranged near the lower discharge end of the track units, a transfer receptacle arranged within th'e casing, and a handle attached to the transfer receptacle to move it and extending through the slot means to the exterior of the casing, the handle being guided in its movement by the slot means.

5. In game apparatus, a plurality of track units arranged side by side, each track unit including intake and discharge ends arranged at different elevations, supporting means for the track units, said supporting means having a continuous guide, parts of the guide being arranged near the intake and discharge ends of the track units, a rolling element receiving transfer receptacle, and means to move the receptacle and having its action controlled by the guide means.

6. In game apparatus, a plurality of track units arranged side by side, each track unit being vertically inclined and having an upper intake end and a lower discharge end, means to support the track units, a ball receiving transfer receptacle, a continuous guide means having a part arranged near the upper intake ends of the track units and a part arranged near the lower discharge ends of the track units, means to move the receptacle and having its operation controlled by the guide means, and means to hold balls in the starting position upon the intake ends of the track units and to substantially simultaneously release th'e balls.

THOMAS M. BAINS, J a.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 421,913 Donaldson Feb. 25, 1890 1,120,757 Steinberger Dec. 15, 1914 1,849,414 Turnbull Mar. 15, 1932 570,105 Ryan et al Oct. 27, 1896 1,350,384 Parker Aug. 24, 1920 1,449,565 Vogel Mar. 2'?, 1923 1,826,215 Hutchison Oct. 6, 1931 1,287,178 Bach et al. Dec. l0, 1918 856,118 Wallace June 4, 1907 2,086,327 Hameetman July 6, 1937 

